Antique Paints Blog
How to Choose the Best Automotive Paint Brand for Your Workshop
Finding the right automotive paint brand is one of the most important decisions that any professional body shop can make. decisions for any professional body shop. Whether you’re handling everyday repair jobs or high-end restorations, your paint system directly affects the final finish, durability, and even customer satisfaction. The right paint not only gives the car its shine but it also represents your craftsmanship and reliability. There are lots of different automotive paint manufacturers in India, that provide a diverse range of products and selecting the best brand can be quite tricky. You need to take care of everything from color accuracy and durability to cost efficiency and after-sales support, every factor plays a vital role in your shop’s productivity and profitability.
Let’s explore what truly matters when choosing the best automotive paint for your business and why partnering with a trusted name like Antique Paints can make all the difference.
What Matters Most When Choosing an Automotive Paint Brand
Selecting a paint system isn’t just about color, it’s about performance, efficiency, and long-term value. Every professional should evaluate key parameters like color-matching accuracy, finish durability, technical support, and cost-effectiveness. Below, we’ll break down each aspect that separates an average paint brand from a truly professional-grade solution.
Color Matching Accuracy & Advanced Technology
Modern auto refinishing depends heavily on digital precision. A professional automotive car paint brand should offer digital color-matching tools such as a spectrophotometer, a handheld device that reads the exact tone and flake of the existing car paint. This technology works best when connected to a global color database. Brands like Akzo Nobel and PPG Asian Paints, for instance, maintain millions of color formulas, ensuring the perfect shade match, even for specific Indian models like Maruti Suzuki or Mahindra. Equally important is OEM approval. Leading paint brands like Kansai Nerolac and Asian Paints supply paints directly to car manufacturers, meaning their refinish lines maintain the same standards as factory coatings. This gives your repairs a flawless, factory-fresh look. Another critical decision is between solvent borne and waterborne paint systems. While solvent-based systems are common and durable, waterborne paints like PPG’s Envirobase or Akzo Nobel’s Sikkens Autowave are rapidly becoming the standard due to their eco friendliness and superior color accuracy. Forward-thinking automotive paint brands in India are already integrating these technologies to stay future-ready.
Durability, Finish & Clear Coat Performance
When it comes to performance, durability is non-negotiable. The best systems use 2K (two-component) technology, which includes a basecoat and a hardener. This ensures strong chemical bonding and a long lasting finish. Premium automotive paint manufacturing companies in India rely on 2K Polyurethane (PU) clear coats to achieve a deep gloss and excellent resistance to scratches and UV rays. High-Solid (HS) or Ultra High-Solid (UHS) clear coats provide a mirror like shine while saving material and labor time, perfect for busy body shops looking to boost efficiency. Reputable brands also comply with international standards such as ISO 20567-1, which tests stone chip resistance, an essential factor for cars on Indian roads. When you invest in a proven paint system, you’re not just buying color you’re buying long-term protection and customer satisfaction.
Mixing Systems, Training & After-Sales Support
For growing body shops, an efficient computerized mixing system is a game changer. This setup uses multiple “tinter” bottles to create thousands of colors on demand. It eliminates the need to store countless pre mixed cans, saving both inventory cost and workspace. But even the best system is only as good as the people using it. That’s why training and after-sales support are key. Top paint manufacturers in Gujarat and across India, including Antique Paints, emphasize hands-on painter training, covering everything from application techniques to troubleshooting surface defects. Technical support adds real value. A dedicated representative can regularly visit your shop to calibrate color tools and resolve paint matching issues, ensuring consistency in every job. This kind of partnership strengthens both quality and confidence in your operations.
Cost vs Value Materials + Labor Efficiency
Cost per litre doesn’t always tell the full story. A low-cost paint might require multiple coats for full coverage, using more material and labor time. On the other hand, high-quality automotive paint brands in India offer superior coverage, meaning fewer coats and faster jobs. Labor efficiency also depends on cycle time, how long it takes to complete a repair. Premium systems with fast-curing primers or air-dry clear coats can reduce bake time and speed up delivery. Even saving 30 minutes per job can significantly increase your shop’s daily output and revenue. And don’t forget rework rate, a hidden cost that kills profits. Poor color match or clear coat failure means redoing the job for free. Choosing a proven automotive paint brand with strong technology and training support helps eliminate such losses, improving your overall profit margin.
Top Automotive Paint Brands Manufactured in India
India is home to some of the most innovative and reliable names in the automotive refinishing industry. Below are some of the top automotive paint manufacturers in India, each offering unique advantages to body shops and workshops.
Antique Paints (Ahmedabad • Trusted Supplier & Technical Partner)
Based in Ahmedabad, Antique Paints is one of the most respected paint manufacturers in Gujarat, offering a complete line of 2K PU systems, clear coats, primers, and fillers. The brand is known for its commitment to quality and its role as a trusted technical partner for independent body shops. Antique Paints combines local manufacturing strength with advanced formulation technology to deliver consistent, high-performance results.
Kansai Nerolac
A household name and OEM supplier to major automakers like Maruti Suzuki and Tata Motors. Their refinish line, “Nerolac Performa,” ensures factory-level quality and color accuracy for workshops across India.
Berger Paints
Operating under the “Berger Rock Paints” joint venture, they bring Japanese refinishing technology to India, known for superior surface finish and consistency.
Asian Paints
Through their 50:50 partnership with PPG, Asian Paints has introduced global innovations like waterborne systems to Indian workshops. Their PPG Asian Paints division leads the industry in environmentally friendly, high-performance coatings.
Akzo Nobel
Known globally for premium brands like Sikkens and Wanda, Akzo Nobel offers cutting-edge paint systems trusted by luxury car workshops and authorized service centers across India.
Nippon Paint
With their “N-Force” automotive range, Nippon Paint provides a full spectrum of refinishing solutions, from primers to clear coats, powered by advanced Japanese R&D.
3M Automotive
Famous for abrasives and detailing products, 3M’s Automotive Aftermarket Division also provides high-quality refinishing materials that ensure a perfect final polish and finish.
Esdee
An Indian-origin company offering value driven paint systems for independent garages. Their “Autokote” and “Autofill” lines are particularly popular for cost-effective refinishing jobs.
Gloline
A Mumbai-based manufacturer that produces a comprehensive range of automotive refinishing products, including PU paints and clear coats, tailored to the needs of the Indian market.
Shubhcoat
Located in Ahmedabad, Shubhcoat Industries serves the cost conscious segment with PU and NC auto refinish products, providing an affordable yet reliable option for small workshops. With this diverse ecosystem of paint manufacturers in Rajkot, and across India, the market offers excellent choices for every level of business, from high end authorized workshops to small scale garages.
Why Partner with Antique Paints?
When it comes to combining performance, affordability, and reliability, Antique Paints stands out as one of the best automotive paint brands in India. Here’s why professional body shops trust them
Complete System Provider
Antique Paints offers an end-to-end refinishing solution, from fillers and primers to basecoat tinters and 2K PU clear coats. Using products from a single brand ensures 100% chemical compatibility, preventing issues like “lifting” or “bubbling.”
Targeted Technical Support
Unlike larger corporations that focus only on big clients, Antique Paints provides on-ground support tailored to independent garages and mid-size workshops. Their field technicians offer personalized guidance on paint application, color matching, and product optimization,making them a true trusted supplier and technical partner.
Cost-to-Value Ratio
Antique Paints designs its formulations specifically for Indian conditions,humidity, temperature, and road environments. This localized approach ensures high-quality performance at a competitive price, helping workshops maintain profit margins while delivering top-tier finishes.
Regional Focus
Being locally based in Gujarat gives Antique Paints a logistical edge. Clients in paint manufacturing hubs like Rajkot and Surat benefit from faster delivery, reduced shipping costs, and direct access to factory support. This lose connection between manufacturer and body shop builds trust, responsiveness, and long-term collaboration.
